The HCMC government has
directed district governments and related health agencies to enhance preventive
measures against bird flu after two death cases of the avian influenza were
reported in the country.
According to Directive 04/2012/CT-UBND signed
by HCMC’s vice chairman Le Minh Tri last Saturday, illegal trading of live
poultry tends to increase strongly during the Lunar New Year and there still
exists 163 vending areas in 17 districts citywide.
The localities have not really cared about
bird flu prevention and control, while a part of the population is not on alert
for bird flu outbreaks.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development has warned about the potential of new disease outbreaks given the
unpredictable changes of the avian flu, coupled with unfavorable weather
patterns, the rising poultry transport and slaughter, and the lack of vaccines
in some provinces.
Therefore, the city’s government asked the
districts to halt operation of individual poultry farms that do not ensure
biological safety and recommend consumers to buy poultry products with clear
origins and having gone through quarantine tests.
In addition, the directive stated citizens
when detecting dead poultry must report to the authority for timely treatment.
In related news, the Ministry of Agriculture
and Rural Development has proposed importing 50 million doses of bird flu
vaccines worth VND13 billion since the pandemic is getting more complicated and
spreading to more localities.
Vietnam needs some 327 million doses of RE 5
bird flu vaccine in this year, according to the ministry. However, the H5N1
bird-flu virus detected in northern provinces has mutated to a more dangerous
strain, reducing the effectiveness of this vaccine type.
Meanwhile, there is no mutation found in the
virus strain infecting flocks in southern provinces.
In order to have enough vaccine for fowls in
the south and prevent the outbreak in the north, agriculture ministry has
proposed the Ministry of Finance to pledge financial support for the import of
100 million doses of RE 5 bird flu vaccine.
As of February 17, bird flu has hit 11
provinces nationwide. Quang Nam Province is the latest locality affected by the
virus.
Local specialists have yet to identify the
virulence of the avian influenza virus H5N1 but the infected fowls have died
faster than usual, said Le Muon, deputy head of Quang Nam Province’s
agriculture department.
“Previously, vaccination is the best measure
to fight bird flu. But now we stop the vaccination because the virus strain in
the northern and central regions have mutated, making preventive measures hard
to apply,” Muon said.
Van Nam and Thuy Dung - The Saigon Times Daily
Business & Investment Opportunities
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Consulting, Investment and Management, focusing three main economic sectors: International PR; Healthcare & Wellness;and Tourism & Hospitality. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programs. Sign up with twitter to get news updates with @SaigonBusinessC. Thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment